The Bees · The last 50 years has witnessed a 50% decline in honeybee population (Roach) · From 1990 to 1998 bumblebee populations have declined by 20% (Kearns, Inouye, and Waser) · Value of crop pollination from the honeybees has been quantified to be as high as $10-14 billion dollars (Kearns, Inouye, and Waser, 92)
The relationship between plants and various pollinator species (such as birds, bees, flies, bats, and other insects) allows plants to breed as pollinators gather food. We can accredit this relationship for up to one third of our food! (Kearns, Inouye, and Waser, 89) Although monetary approximation can no way fully represent the value of any species, Kevin PG in Acta Hortic has suggested that the service of pollination benefits American crops to the magnitude of $20 to $40 billion a year. One scientist has found that pollination activity has decreased by 62% in his study of 258 different plants (Kearns, Inouye, and Waser, 86).
Factors that contribute to this decline include pesticide use, herbicide use, the lack of plant diversity that results from modern farming, the infiltration of non-native bees species, and the isolation and segmentation of plants species. (Kearns, Inouye, and Waser, 87 and 89). In regard to the decline of honeybee populations it is evident that mites and virus are also devastating bee population, but the source of increased disease is unknown(Roach) Some scientists suggest that introducing genetically modified crops may be to blame for weakening bees immune systems (Organic).
The irony surrounding the decline of pollination activity is substantial. We have cleared large tracks of land to plant one type of crop which fragments and homogenizes the previously vast and diverse ecosystem. This change leads to a decline in pollination activity. However, farmers still demand the continued service of pollination and raise bees in closed infrastructures which increase the incidence of disease and the spread of viruses (Roach). Discounting the value of pollinators, holding contempt for the randomness of nature, and restricting access to plants by applying pesticides and herbicides, could lead to a future in which humans are controlling the reproduction of plants. If natural pollination continues to decline, then humans will have to waste their time providing a service that nature already has under control!
The decline of pollinators is a multifaceted problem that mirrors the confusion and complexity that accompanies many disease that affect humans. The most apparent action that you can take to aid the health of bees is to buy organic food that doesn’t use pesticides and herbicides. For more information on the decline of pollinators, particularly bees: "Bee Colony Collapse Disorder- Where is it Heading?" "Disease Dooming Native Bumblebees" "Genetic Scientists Warns of Risk of GE" "Pollinator Decline" on Wikipedia References:
"Bee Colony Collapse Disorder- Where is it Heading?." Celsias. Celsias, Web. 11 Feb 2010. <http://www.celsias.com/article/bee-colony-collapse-disorder-where-is-it-heading/>.
Kearns, Carol, David Inouye, and Nickolas Waser. "Endangered Mutalisms: The Conservation of Plant-Pollinator Interaction." Annual Review of Ecological Systems. 29 (1998): 83-112. Print.
The Bees
· The last 50 years has witnessed a 50% decline in honeybee population (Roach)
· From 1990 to 1998 bumblebee populations have declined by 20% (Kearns, Inouye, and Waser)
· Value of crop pollination from the honeybees has been quantified to be as high as $10-14 billion dollars (Kearns, Inouye, and Waser, 92)
The relationship between plants and various pollinator species (such as birds, bees, flies, bats, and other insects) allows plants to breed as pollinators gather food. We can accredit this relationship for up to one third of our food! (Kearns, Inouye, and Waser, 89) Although monetary approximation can no way fully represent the value of any species, Kevin PG in Acta Hortic has suggested that the service of pollination benefits American crops to the magnitude of $20 to $40 billion a year. One scientist has found that pollination activity has decreased by 62% in his study of 258 different plants (Kearns, Inouye, and Waser, 86).
Factors that contribute to this decline include pesticide use, herbicide use, the lack of plant diversity that results from modern farming, the infiltration of non-native bees species, and the isolation and segmentation of plants species. (Kearns, Inouye, and Waser, 87 and 89). In regard to the decline of honeybee populations it is evident that mites and virus are also devastating bee population, but the source of increased disease is unknown(Roach) Some scientists suggest that introducing genetically modified crops may be to blame for weakening bees immune systems (Organic).
The irony surrounding the decline of pollination activity is substantial. We have cleared large tracks of land to plant one type of crop which fragments and homogenizes the previously vast and diverse ecosystem. This change leads to a decline in pollination activity. However, farmers still demand the continued service of pollination and raise bees in closed infrastructures which increase the incidence of disease and the spread of viruses (Roach). Discounting the value of pollinators, holding contempt for the randomness of nature, and restricting access to plants by applying pesticides and herbicides, could lead to a future in which humans are controlling the reproduction of plants. If natural pollination continues to decline, then humans will have to waste their time providing a service that nature already has under control!
The decline of pollinators is a multifaceted problem that mirrors the confusion and complexity that accompanies many disease that affect humans. The most apparent action that you can take to aid the health of bees is to buy organic food that doesn’t use pesticides and herbicides.
For more information on the decline of pollinators, particularly bees:
"Bee Colony Collapse Disorder- Where is it Heading?"
"Disease Dooming Native Bumblebees"
"Genetic Scientists Warns of Risk of GE"
"Pollinator Decline" on Wikipedia
References:
"Bee Colony Collapse Disorder- Where is it Heading?." Celsias. Celsias, Web. 11 Feb 2010. <http://www.celsias.com/article/bee-colony-collapse-disorder-where-is-it-heading/>.
Kearns, Carol, David Inouye, and Nickolas Waser. "Endangered Mutalisms: The Conservation of Plant-Pollinator Interaction." Annual Review of Ecological Systems. 29 (1998): 83-112. Print.
Mapes, Lynda. "Disease Dooming Native Bumblebees." The Xerces Society. 13 Jan 2010. The Seattle Times, Web. 11 Feb 2010. <http://www.xerces.org/2010/01/13/disease-dooming-native-bumblebees/>.
Pesticide Action Network . "Genetic Scientists Warns of Risk of GE ." Organic Consumers Association. 28 Mar 2007. Pesticide Action Network, Web. 11 Feb 2010. <http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4682.cfm>.
"Pollinator Decline." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, Web. 11 Feb 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollinator_decline>.
Roach, John. "Bee Decline May Spell End of Some Fruits, Vegetables." National Geographic. 05 10 2004. National Geographic, Web. 11 Feb 2010. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/10/1005_041005_
Images obtained from:
Simpson’s Bee: http://www.simpsonstrivia.com.ar/simpsons-photos/wallpapers/bumble-bee-man.gif
Barry B. Benson: http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/beemovieposter2top.jpg
Honeynut Cheerios Bee: http://rootsofeasternmedicine.com/articles/cheeriosbee11193949918.jpg
Field: "Rendevous." Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/72179079@N00/3851761959/, Web. 11 Feb 2010.